Acetylene-gas-generator lamp



No. 616,464. Patented Dec. 27, I898; F. w. HEDGELAND.

ACETYLENl-QGAS GENERATOR LAMP.

(Application filed May 12, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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llNTTnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK W. IIEDGELAND, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ACETYLEN E-GAS-G EN ERATOR LAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,464, dated December27, 1898.

Application filed May 12, 1898- of Illinois, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Acetylene-Lamps, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in acetylene-lamps, and is amodification of the construction of such lamps shown in my Patent No.600,614, of March 15, 1808, and in my application, Serial No. 654,651,since patented in Patent No. 608,403, of August 2, 1898.

My object in the invention has been to produce a very practical form oflamp which is economical in cost and equally as durable and as sensitivein its self-regulation while in use as those shown in my said patents,and at the same time to provide means whereby to insure the bringing ofthe water into direct and immediate contact with the carbid, and toprovide against any imperfect charging of the lamp, as well as theunsatisfactory results which would attend imperfect charging.

The invention consists in the details of construction and the novelcombinations of parts and devices hereinafter specified,and pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved lamp, and Fig. 2 is anenlarged detail section.

In said drawings, A represents the body of the lamp, which may be ofcylindrical or any other suitable shape. I prefer to make it cylindricaland also tapering in form, as shown at Fig. 1. The outer and upper partsof the body form a water reservoir or tank B, and in the center isarranged a shell C, closed at the bottom bya removable plate D, thisplate having an upstanding annular flange D, which is threadedexteriorly and engages a corresponding thread upon the interior surfaceof the shell 0. The shell forms the generating-chamber of the lamp, andit is adapted to receive and the bottom D is adapted to support acarbid-holder E. Communicating with the top of the shell 0 is agas-conduit F, leading to the burner G. The top of the carbid-holder isformed of perforated metal or Serial No. 680,477. (No model.)

wire-cloth E, so as to afford the gas ready exit into the conduit F.

' The carbid-holder is made large enough to permit the expansion of thecarbid W, and in order to keep the latter compact I provide the holderwith a yielding diaphragm H and temporarily hold it in position by meansof the ledge J, formed upon the interior of the holder and located asshown, this ledge merely engaging the edges of the diaphragm withoutbeing fastened thereto in any way. By this diaphragm the carbid will bekept compact until the plug R is inserted, as hereinafter described,andthe carbid immediately around it has become moist and converted intoresidue. The diaphragm is perforated to permit the gas to pass throughit, and I prefer to make it of reasonably stiff card or paper board orsimilar material, so it will bend sufficiently at the center under thepressure of the carbid to allow it to move above the ledge. While I havespecified card or paperboard as a desirable material, it will beunderstood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, as obviously anymaterial which will accomplish the result stated in a similar mannermaybe used in its stead.

The lower portion of the body A is separated from the upper portion by ahorizontal partition K, thus forming a lower chamber L, which I call theequalizing-chamber and which is similar to the equalizing-chamber shownin my said patents. It communicates with the reservoir B by means of apassage M, open at its bottom and controlled at the top by a valve N,the stem of which extends to the top of the reservoir and is threadedthereto, as plainly shown. This valve is opened when the lamp is'startedand closed when it is desired to stop its operation. The Water risesfrom equalizing-chamber L through an opening or passageO intoachamber P,formed in a short tube P, extending from the outside of the lamp to ajunction with the shell C. In this chamber P a plug R is inserted, andsaid plug is hollow except at its outer end, and that portion of itlying within the chamber P is perforated, and from this perforatedportion to its inner end its bore tapers decreasingly, and its inner endis threaded in the tube P, all of which will be understood from Fig. 2.A packing S is inserted between the head of the plug and the body of thelamp, so that when the plug is inserted it may be made to compress saidpacking, and thus prevent any escape of gas or water. It is necessary tothe successful operation of the lamp that this joint be made through theshell, but into the carbid-holder and preferably enters a short distancewithin the latter, as illustrated, so that it is brought immediatelyagainst the carbid, and the latter is kept packed closely around theplug by the diaphragm until after the lamp is started, when the moisturequickly changes the carbid, so that it no longer needs any extraneousrestraint. The carbid-holder should be provided with a piece of cloth T,covering the mouth of the plug and preventing the carbid from enteringthereat.

\Vhen it is desired to start the lamp, the valve N is opened, and thewater then flows from the tank or reservoir B into theequalizing-chamber L, and as soon as it has filled the latter it risesthrough the passage 0 and chamber P and enters the plug, and from thenceflows laterally and horizontally through the plug into the carbid. Thegas generated rises through the carbid-holder into the passage F, andthence to the burner. It also fills the pipe T, and whenever thepressure becomes excessive the gas Will move down through the pipe T andexpel the water from the plug, and thus almost instantly stop thegeneration. As soon as the gas-pressure relaxes the gravity of the waterin the reservoir again forces the water in the equalizingchamber throughpassage 0 into the plug, so that generation will be resumed. In thesemovements the water ebbs and flows through the equalizing-chamber, andthe equilibrium of pressure between the gas and the water is quicklyestablished.

To charge the lamp with carbid, the holder is most conveniently removedand inverted, a diaphragm H is positioned therein, and the carbid is putin. The bottom D, also inverted, is now placed over the end of theholder, so that the latter can be righted without danger of losing anycarbid. After the charged holder has been secured in the lamp the plug Ris screwed home, so as to force its nose or inner end into the carbidand so as to tighten the joint between the plug and its seat upon thebody A.

I claim 1. The combination in an acetylene-lamp, of thegenerator-chamber, water-reservoir B, equalizing-chamber L,a valvedwater-passage M, the hollow plug extending into the carbid, and thechamber surrounding the plug and communicating both with theequalizing-chamber and the gas-holding part of the lamp, substantiallyas specified.

2. The combination with the carbid-holder, the gas-passage T and theequalizing-chamber, of a removable hollow plug connecting said chamberwith the carbid, and receiving the gas under pressure from said passage,substantially as specified.

3. The combination in an acetylene-lamp, with the carbid-holder, thewater passage whereby the water is fed to the carbid, and thegas-passage whereby the feeding of the water is controlled, of aremovable hollow plug connecting said passages with the inte-' rior ofthe holder, substantially as specified.

4.. The combination in an acetylene-lamp, with the carbid-holder, thewater passage whereby the water is fed to the carbid, and thegas-passage whereby the feeding of the Water is controlled, of a chamberP into which said passages open, and a hollow plug inserted in saidchamber and having openings in its sides, said plug also connecting saidchamber with the interior of the carbid-holder, substantially asspecified.

5. The combination with the gas and water passages and thecarbid-holder, of a hollow plug receiving the gas and water from saidpassages, and movable so as to force its end into the body of carbid inthe holder, sub stantially as specified.

6. The combination in an acetylene-lamp of a carbid-holder, a gas-supplypipe T, a waterpassage 0 and a hollow plug R open at its inner end andconnecting said pipe and passage with the carbid and also projectinginside the wall of the holder and into the side of the body of carbidtherein, substantially as specified.

7. The combination with the carbid-holder and the gas and water supplypassages, of the chamber P uniting said passages, and the hollow plugconnecting said chamber with the carbid-holder, substantially asspecified.

8. The combination with the carbid-holder and the gas and water supplypassages, of the chamber P uniting said passages, and a removable hollowplug connecting the chamher and the carbid-holder, and means foreffecting a tight joint between the plug and the outside of the lamp,substantially as specified.

9. The combination in an acetylene-lamp, of the carbid-holder and thegas and water supply passages, the removable, perforated hollow plug Restablishing communication between said passages and the carbid-holder,and carrying the Water horizontally through the wall of the holder,substantially as specified.

FREDERICK \V. HEDGELAND.

\Vitnesses:

EDW. S. EvARTs, H. M. MUNDAY.

